Target 8
Minimize the Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Build Resilience
Minimize the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity and increase its resilience through mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction actions, including through nature-based solution and/or ecosystem-based approaches, while minimizing negative and fostering positive impacts of climate action on biodiversity.
Minimize the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity and increase its resilience through mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction actions, including through nature-based solution and/or ecosystem-based approaches, while minimizing negative and fostering positive impacts of climate action on biodiversity.
Rationale
GSAP
The magnitude of climate change has widespread and increasingly negative impacts on wild species, affecting their morphology, genetics, behaviour, abundance, distribution, extinction risk, and community interactions. Species in ecosystems such as coral reefs, high mountains, and at high latitudes are particularly at risk. It is critical to restrict average global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees, and interventions are needed now to help species adapt to the challenges they are already facing.
GSAP SKILLS
GSAP actions cover the use of IPCC global climate change scenarios to model threats, conducting climate change vulnerability and adaptive capacity assessments for threatened species, identifying potential species refugia and climate corridors, incorporating vulnerability assessments into species conservation and recovery plans, and maintaining or restoring ecological networks.
Primary tools and resources
CBD Guidance on enhancing positive and minimizing negative impacts on biodiversity of climate change adaptation activities
This document was produced by the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) in 2016. It provides guidance on enhancing the positive and minimizing the negative impacts on biodiversity of climate change mitigation and adaptation activities, based on recent literature, case studies, and experience.
Section I presents the main principles of enhancing positive and reducing negative impacts of climate change adaptation activities on biodiversity. Section II provides guidance on enhancing positive and minimizing negative impacts of climate change adaptation activities, with specific examples from different sectors and ecosystems. Section III provides examples of tools to enhance the benefits and reduce the negative impacts of mitigation on biodiversity, with references to other reports where additional information can be found.
IUCN Guidelines for Assessing Species’ Vulnerability to Climate Change
Several methods have been developed for climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) of species. There is no single ‘correct’ or established way to carry out CCVA of species and these guidelines aim to assist conservation practitioners to interpret and use the complex and often inconsistent CCVA literature. The guidelines indicate sensible and defensible approaches, in the context of the current state of knowledge and available resources.
The guidelines outline some of the terms commonly used in climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) and describe three dominant CCVA approaches, namely correlative (niche-based), mechanistic, and trait-based approaches. Advice is provided on setting clear, measurable objectives and selecting CCVA approaches and appropriate methods. Guidance on using and interpreting CCVA results includes suggestions on data sources and their use, working with knowledge gaps and uncertainty, approaches for use in challenging contexts, and incorporating indirect climate change impacts such as habitat transformation.
It is hoped that the guidelines will promote standardization of CCVA terminology and provide a useful resource for those wishing to carry out CCVA at species, site, or site-network scales.
The guidelines are structured to provide (i) background information on definitions and metrics associated with CCVA; (ii) a discussion on identifying CCVA objectives; (iii) core guidance on selecting and applying appropriate methods; (iv) sections on interpreting and communicating results; (v) using results in IUCN Red List assessments; (vi) ways to address the many sources of uncertainty in CCVAs. A final section explores future directions for CCVAs and research needs. The guidelines also highlight 10 case studies that provide worked examples of CCVAs covering the range of methods described.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. The objective of the IPCC is to provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies. IPCC provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC reports are also a key input into international climate change negotiations.
An open and transparent review by experts and governments around the world is an essential part of the IPCC process to ensure an objective and complete assessment and to reflect a diverse range of views and expertise. Through its assessments, the IPCC identifies the strength of scientific agreement in different areas and indicates where further research is needed. The IPCC does not conduct its own research.
The IPCC has completed its Sixth Assessment cycle, during which it produced Assessment reports from its three Working Groups, three Special Reports, a Methodology Report, and the Synthesis report (SYR 6) which was finalized in March 2023.
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)
The GSPC – A Plan to Save the World’s Plant Species – highlights the importance of plants and the ecosystem services they provide for all life on earth, and aims to ensure their conservation. The GSPC includes 16 targets for plant conservation. An updated GSPC was formally adopted at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD.
Other tools and resources
A Partnership with the Wine Industry to Sustain Protected Areas and Ecosystem Services in Chile
A través de investigación cientifica relevante y procesos de colaboración ciencia-productor, se contribuye a la identificacion y creación de áreas de conservacion privadas en predios agrícolas, integran el rediseño de predios y su manejo para que coexistan con la biodiversidad. Este trabajo es Realizado por el Programa Vino, Cambio Climatico y Biodiversidad con el apoyo de 21viñas Chilenas desde el año 2008.
Siembra y cosecha de agua de lluvia frente a la sequía en la Microcuenca de Huacrahuacho
Esta solución se implementó en la microcuenca Huacrahuacho, ubicada en un ecosistema altoandino llamado Puna sobre los 3.800 msnm. Se diseñó frente a los problemas de sequía y disminución de fuentes de agua, durante la época seca, para el consumo humano y el uso agropecuario. Tuvo como objetivos: captar, almacenar e infiltrar agua y recargar los acuíferos; incrementar/mantener el caudal de los manantiales; generar un microclima con mayor humedad; y conservar la biodiversidad.
La qocha, palabra quechua que significa laguna pequeña, fue el centro de un conjunto de medidas que incorporan forestación, zanjas de infiltración, manejo de pasturas naturales y acequias colectoras o aductoras.
Gracias a estas medidas construidas por las familias y a nivel comunal, se cuenta con más agua durante las épocas de estiaje, lo que ha permitido la recuperación de pastos naturales para la producción ganadera y un cambio hacia un paisaje más húmedo con mayor biodiversidad y belleza paisajística.
Conservación de páramos y bosques altoandinos para recuperar la regulación hídrica en la cuenca
Los escenarios de cambio climático en la Región Piura, anuncian escasez en la oferta hídrica, lo cual afectará a la población tanto en la parte alta (comunidad) como en la parte baja de la cuenca (usuarios del agua para riego). La solución contribuye a mejorar la resiliencia a través de acciones de conservación en los bosques de neblina y páramos (ecosistemas de montaña eficientes en la retención de agua) en la Comunidad de Samanga, para lo cual cuenta con un Área de Conservación “Bosques de Neblina y Páramos de Samanga” y su respectivo Plan de Manejo Participativo. Asimismo, se ha mejorado la capacidad adaptativa a través de acuerdos entre la comunidad y los usuarios – regantes, los que contribuyen a la sostenibilidad de las acciones de conservación (incluyendo fortalecimiento de capacidades y de desarrollo sostenible). Con esto, se busca recuperar y mantener el servicio de regulación hídrica de la cuenca del río Quiroz, sobre todo la oferta de agua en la parte baja.
Gestion résiliente des ressources en eau et sol au Burundi
Le projet applique des mesures d’adaptation dans les bassins versants vulnérables. Les ressources naturelles, telles que l’eau et le sol, sont gérées durablement afin de réduire l’érosion et d’améliorer les rendements agricoles. Des mesures d’adaptation « vertes », sans regret, telles que l’agroforesterie et le reboisement communautaire sont complétés par d’autres mesures telles que le stockage et la promotion de l’infiltration de l’eau de pluie et le travail de conservation du sol.
Un ejemplo de gobernanza y participación de pueblos y nacionalidades indígenas en el manejo de la Reserva de Producción de Fauna Cuyabeno, Ecuador
Las principales amenazas para la conservación de la RPF Cuyabeno provienen de las actividades petroleras, extracción forestal de productos maderables, caza ilegal, tráfico ilegal de vida silvestre, desarrollo agrícola bajo sistemas de monocultivos, expansión de la frontera agrícola y colonización.
El aumento de la visitación turística también es un reto que debe enfrentar la Reserva, ya que es un importante punto de ingreso hacia la Amazonía baja, y tiene interesantes valores naturales y culturales que son aprovechados con fines turísticos.
En términos socio ambientales, en la Reserva habitan 11 comunidades indígenas de cinco nacionalidades, con las que es necesario llegar a acuerdos relacionados con el acceso a la tenencia de la tierra y al uso sostenible de los recursos naturales del territorio. Esto representa un reto, pues se busca articular las visiones de manejo y conservación del territorio, entre estas comunidades indígenas y el Estado.
Climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation
Global climate mitigation policies are promoting a radical shift in emission reduction activities to achieve net-zero targets by 2050. Although recent scientific studies have explored the impacts of some climate mitigation initiatives on biodiversity in various contexts, a global perspective of these developments is required. This report contributes to these needs and includes a current synopsis of the carbon market mechanisms implemented around the world, how these mechanisms are related to natural ecosystems, the potential impacts of their operation, and the potential contribution of natural ecosystems in the design of Nature-based Solutions to reducing carbon emissions.
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Species
Changes in climate are transforming our planet. To adapt, we must rethink traditional approaches to conservation and development, moving beyond managing for persistence to managing for change. Climate change adaptation—the process of adjusting to the changing climate and its cascading impacts—seeks to reduce the vulnerability and build the resilience of people and nature to the current and anticipated effects of climate change while managing the uncertainties of the future.
IUCN Climate Change Specialist Group
The key objectives of this group are (1) to provide the IUCN Species Survival Commission with strategic guidance, support and information on climate change related risks to biodiversity and conservation responses, (2) to promote coordinated responses to climate change within and among the IUCN Species Survival Commission, IUCN programmes and IUCN partner organizations, (3) to catalyse and support sound science, effective policy and evidence-based conservation practice informed by a deeper understanding of climate change, its impacts on biodiversity, and the responses required.
This specialist group was established in 2013 as a Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
IWC science and stewardship of climate change impacts on cetaceans
The consequences of climate change are now understood to be widespread, affecting many different aspects of the environment. The impact on cetaceans is believed to be equally broad, and climate change is also likely to exacerbate existing threats, for example habitat loss, pollution and disease.
AEWA Strategic Plan 2019-2027 Adopted at the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties
The first AEWA Strategic Plan was adopted at the 4th Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) in 2008 through Resolution 4.7 and covered the period 2009-2017. Noting that MOP7 will not have taken place before 2018, in November 2015, MOP6 decided to extend the Strategic Plan until 2018 as per Resolution 6.14. Through the same Resolution, the MOP instructed the Standing Committee, working with the Technical Committee and supported by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat, to revise the AEWA Strategic Plan taking into account the CMS Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015-2023, and to present a draft plan for the period 2019-2027 for consideration and adoption by MOP7. The current Strategic Plan for the period 2019-2027 was adopted at the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties on 4-8 December 2018 in Durban, South Africa.
Solutions and case studies
Adaptation to Climate Change in Morocco by Protecting Genetic Resources and Retaining their Fair Use
Many ecosystem services in Morocco are being over-utilised and increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change. The solution applied includes (a) the development of the legal and institutional framework in support of the Moroccan Government, (b) awareness raising,(c) incorporatiion of ecosystem services and climate change adaptation into regional and municipal development plans, (d) improved environmental monitoring, (e) assistance in making use of Morocco’s biological resources.
Capacity Development for Forest Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change
Overexploitation of forests in the region, overgrazing, forest fires, rapid urbanisationand the impacts of climate change are endangering forest functions in the Mediterranean region. The GIZ Regional Programme ‘Capacity Development for Forest Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (FEbA)’ is tackling these issues by (a) linking non-forest actors with those engaged in forest management and (b) by capacity development targeting in first instance decision makers.
Implementation of EbA measures in the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve
A pilot was implemented to underpin the incorporation of an EbA approach into the planning tools for natural protected areas. The necessary methodologies and tools were developed, the vulnerability assessment was completed, the specific areas and the measures to be implemented were identified, including the communal management of native grasslands, vicuñas management (a wild relative of the llama), the expansion and conservation of wetlands and the restoration of water infrastructure.
Strengthening Capacities in Coastal Spatial Planning
The solution aims at sustainable development in coastal areas of the East Asian Seas region by reducing and preventing impacts of natural disasters, climate change and sea level rise. It provides references and capacity building for national and local authorities in coastal and marine spatial planning. National adaptation activities and best practices for capacity building and field application tailored to needs and priorities of each country are provided.
Good Practices for Climate Change Adaptation
The catalog compiles best practices that prevent or reduce the impact of climate change on coastal areas in Quintana Roo State, México with focus on land use, construction and ecosystems management. Solution partners systematized the experiences of hotels, dwellers, architects and engineers living and working along the Méxican Caribbean and identified almost 50 best practices. The catalog is a key component of the Climate Risk and Resilience Initiative lead by The Nature Conservancy.
Empowering island communities: the use of cost-benefit analysis to support informed climate change adaptation decisions
Ecosystem based adaptation (EbA) solutions were identified and selected in a participatory process conducted across low-lying atoll islands and high islands communities of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) was conducted to assess the costs and benefits of each EbA solution, in terms of welfare losses, due to the implementation of projects or policies, and welfare gains associated with the improved provision of ecosystem services.
Participatory 3D Mapping for Land Use Planning and Climate Change Adaptation
Due to increasing pressure on vulnerable natural resources from tourism, local development, and climate change, state government planners in Melekeok (Palau) have identified a need to prioritize land use planning. A 3D model of the state was created using a participatory process, utlizing the knowledge of all demographic sectors of the community. The end result is a 12’ x 10.5’ x 6” model of that serves as a tool to help guide decision makers and community members how to plan for climate change adaptation, manage natural resource, and address land zoning issues.
Increased adaptive capacities of vulnerable communities in Maasin
To face the climate change challenge, the City government embarked to undertake activities they believed would increase the adaptive capacities of the constituents. The Project Maasin City was a beneficiary of a packge of support that consisted of installation of their watch tower, a fish-finder radar system, a radio and communications system that connected the City to its neighboring municipalities along the Sogod Bay of Southern Leyte.
Using ICT tools in participatory vulnerability assessments
Using Information Communication Technologies (ICT) tools to facilitate participatory climate change vulnerability assessments addresses the challenge of effectively engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including those at different literacy and capacity levels, to capture local and traditional knowledge as well as stakeholder input on priority needs and opportunities for resilience building in the Caribbean islands.
Valuating climate adaptation options on Placencia Peninsula
The ‘Valuating Climate Adaptation Options’ study used ecosystem service and cost-benefit analysis to illuminate the trade-offs between different climate adaptation strategies on Placencia Peninsula, Belize. It accounts for coastal-marine ecosystem services like tourism opportunities, protection from storms and sea level rise, and spiny lobster catch to make informed decisions.
Functioning watersheds in the face of climate change
This solution promotes the integrated management of coastal watersheds that drain into the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California by aligning the investments of public and private agencies to address climate change impacts and coastal and marine conservation. It is the foundation for enduring cross-sectorial coordination and local participation to maintain and recover watershed functions that deliver ecosystem services, which benefit cities and rural communities.
Regional Strategy on Coastal Erosion Management
The regional strategy addresses coastal erosion due to sea-level rise, policy and operational gaps in six East Asian Seas countries. National authorities assess the national setting, gaps and needs and identify directions and priority actions for addressing coastal erosion. National reports on results and recommendations are presented, discussed and agreed through public participation and a national consultation process with all stakeholders.
